Ron Artest Wants to Box Rampage Jackson

Ron Artest will do almost anything for attention, and that includes faking news about the lockout being over. The Lakers forward has long expressed a desire to try out different sports when he’s done playing basketball. He said last year that he wanted to try football, and he’s said for a long time that he wants to box after his NBA days are over.

Well Metta World Peace went on a tweeting-for-attention binge Sunday, and at one point said “I will challenge anyone heavyweight over 240 to a boxing fight. Not UFC. Boxing in the ring!! Come get your face ko’d!”

At first, Metta talked about facing street fighting legend, Kimbo Slice. Mr. Peace was certain to point out that he will only box someone, not face them in an MMA match. When the name Jose Canseco came up, Artest brushed it aside saying he needs more of a challenge. We agree; Canseco’s lost to a 60-year-old man. But then the name of UFC fighter Rampage Jackson came up, and Ron Ron said he’d take that fight, as long as it were in the boxing ring.

On Tuesday, it appeared as if a charity fight was going to be arranged. Both Rampage and Ron Ron seemed into it, but then something must have come up because Peace’s tune changed.

“Come on UFC ! Don’t block me and Rampage’s fight for charity!” Artest wrote on Twitter, implying that a contractual roadblock might stand in the way of a charity bout.

I know Mr. Peace is really angling for this thing to happen, but I’m guessing he’s bargaining for more than he can handle. Jackson is a professional fighter. Artest, despite his best efforts on the court to show us otherwise, is a basketball player. This probably would not work out well for him.